Analysis of the music video: Lil Nas X – Montero (Call Me
By Your Name)
Analysis of the video
The story: Lil Nas X is playing the guitar and chilling in a mystical garden. A snake descends
from a tree and seduces Lil Nas X. The snake and Lil Nas X share a kiss and probably have sex.
Later, Lil Nas X is chained and brought to court to be judged. After this he poledances his
way down to hell where he seduces the devil. Eventually he kills the devil and takes his
crown.
- The video starts of in a
mystical, magical garden. This
refers to the garden of Eden
and the biblical story of Adam
& Eve.
- A snake seduces Lil Nas X. They
share a kiss on the lips and then
the snake kisses other parts of
his body, going towards his
penis.
- The snake looks rather
masculine, but it’s not
guaranteed that this snake is
male. This might indicate that
the snake is queer as the snake
does not comply to
heteronormative standards
(queer media studies).
- In queer representations,
the ‘heroes’ or those who
aren’t heteronormative are
, deliberately represented as sexual, which is clearly the case in this video. Lil Nas X
also gives the devil a lap dance + does pole dancing.
- Queer media studies try to deconstruct or reveal how texts engage in
heteronormative practices, this text does as well by portraying that he is judged for
kissing someone queer
- The Anti-porn movement (based
on radical and lesbian feminism + the
scholars: Dworkin & Mackinnon) would
denounce this video as it is very sexual.
The anti-porn didn’t believe in sexual
pleasure. They’re also against the abuse of
women and porn in general.
- Sex-positivist thinkers such as Gayle S. Rubin would support this video as it could help
people explore their sexuality and find a representation of their sexual identity.